Multifunctional sports ball

ABSTRACT

Multifunctional sports ball ( 1 ) the external surface of which comprises at least a first and a second type of zone; characterized in that each zone ( 2, 3 ) comprises a structure adapted to the practice of one specific sport. According to one alternative form of the invention, the ball ( 1 ) is designed for the simultaneous practice of basketball and football.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ball sports, particularly basketball and football. It relates more specifically to the balls used in these sports.

PRIOR ART

A ball sport such as basketball, volleyball, football or handball is notably characterized by a ball, the dimensions, shape, material and structure of which are adapted to the sport for which it is intended.

A football, a volleyball or a handball generally has a smooth external surface. Conversely, the surface of a basketball is somewhat rough. The roughness improves the grip of the ball in hand, something which is important because the dimensions of a basketball are such that it cannot be held in one hand as easily as a handball.

One problem that is found with the balls of the prior art lies in the fact that they are not adapted to multiple uses. In order to play football effectively, use of a specific ball is preferred. Admittedly, a football can be used for playing another sport such as basketball, but in that case the ball is not as effective as a basketball the surface structure, weight and dimensions are specifically designed for that game.

This problem is all the more pronounced when practicing sports in which the ball is used with both the feet and the hands.

There is therefore a need to overcome the aforementioned problems.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to offer a one and the same ball that is intended for at least two uses, as in the FooBaSKILL™ game.

Another object of the invention is to offer a ball which maintains the advantages offered by the balls of the prior art, notably in terms of the grip of the ball in hand and at the feet.

Another object of the invention is to offer a multifunctional ball which maintains the tactile sensations obtained with the balls of the prior art.

The invention therefore relates to a multifunctional sports ball the external surface of which comprises at least two types of zone; characterized in that each zone comprises a structure adapted to use in a specific sport.

For preference, the structures differ from one another in terms of their roughness.

According to one embodiment, one of the structures is smooth (zero roughness).

According to one particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the surface of the ball is made up of a set of elements joined together, at least one of said elements having a surface that differs from that of the other elements.

The number of different structures, and therefore the number of uses to which the ball can be put, is not necessarily limited to two.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be understood hereinafter by way of an example illustrated by the following figures:

FIG. 1: Various views of a ball intended for the combined practice of football and of basketball.

FIG. 2: Exploded view of the ball of FIG. 1 and two further views of this same ball.

In this example, the ball 1 is spherical and is made up of two different materials, one having a rougher structure than the other. The rough material reproduces the texture of a basketball and the smooth material that of a football. In this example, the “basketball” material is made up of elements 2 of substantially triangular shape whereas the “football” material is made up of strips 3 of hexagonal shape. The various elements 2, 3 are joined together using a traditional technique (stitching, bonding, etc.). The volume of the ball 1 may for example correspond to a size 5 type of football. The weight may lie somewhere between 460 and 480 grams.

As indicated previously, the ball 1 described in this example is intended for the practice of a sport which combines the specific skills of football and of basketball. This ball is designed so that the player feels the same tactile sensations, when playing football and basketball, while playing with a single ball.

It goes without saying that the invention is not restricted to the abovementioned example and that it covers any other alternative form covered by the claimed field.

The following list of alternative forms of embodiment of the invention is nonexhaustive:

-   -   A ball of non-spherical shape, for example of the rugby or         American-football type.     -   Structures with identical reliefs differentiated only in terms         of different materials.     -   Ball comprising only elements (panels) of the same geometric         shape, for example hexagonal or octagonal, but with different         structures.     -   Balls of varying size, volume, shape and weight.     -   Use in other ball sports. 

1. A multifunctional sports ball the external surface of which comprises at least a first and a second type of zone; wherein each zone comprises a structure adapted to the practice of one specific sport.
 2. The ball as claimed in claim 1, in which the structures have different roughnesses.
 3. The ball as claimed in claim 1, in which the first type of zone has a rough structure and the second type of zone a smooth structure.
 4. The ball as claimed in claim 1, the surface of which is made up of a first set of elements forming said first type of zone and a second set of elements forming said second type of zone.
 5. The ball as claimed in claim 4, in which the first set comprises elements of substantially triangular shape, which are arranged on the surface of the ball.
 6. The ball as claimed in claim 1, in which the second set comprises elements in the form of strips which are arranged on the surface of the ball in such a way as to form crosses.
 7. The ball as claimed in claim 5, in which each strip has a hexagonal shape.
 8. The ball as claimed in claim 6, in which the elements of the first set are arranged between the elements of the second set.
 9. The ball as claimed in claim 4, in which the structure of the elements of the first set is adapted to the practice of basketball and in which the structure of the elements of the second set is adapted to the practice of football
 10. The use of a ball as defined in claim 1, for the practice of at least two specific sports.
 11. The use as claimed in claim 10, for the practice of basketball and football. 